Office Accommodation Research Articles

British Airways at Waterside: a new model office?

Waterside is one of a handful of recent British commercial buildings that will be remembered long after this decade is over. Its greatest significance is as a marker of the changing relationship between organizations and their office accommodation. The story of its development contains many generic lessons to be derived from the use of architecture as a catalyst in change management. It is hoped that a future paper will report on one of the most intractable problems in architectural research–whether office design (and Waterside in particular) can affect productivity.

Corporate real estate: changing office occupier needs ‐ a case study

The intention of this paper is to examine the perceptions of existing office occupiers in an effort to determine whether current property provision is meeting need and also to aid understanding of potential future requirements. The data which support the paper were gathered as part of a comprehensive study of the Birmingham office market undertaken by the authors. The objective of that study was to gain a better understanding and appreciation of occupier needs and preferences in terms of the type and location of commercial office accommodation. The study also included an analysis of occupiers’ responses to determine future demands and trends for such accommodation.

Alternative workplace strategies in Hong Kong

Based on the results of a questionnaire survey among facility management professionals, the paper reviews current and future applications for alternative workplace strategies (AWS) in Hong Kong. The survey indicates that the impact of workplace redesign and on‐site/on‐premises strategies is more favoured when compared with off‐site/off‐premises strategies. The survey also indicates that the current and future impact of AWS in Hong Kong may be less significant when compared with the USA. The work also examines the role of telecommunciations technology and its likely impact on future office accommodation requirements. Finally, the paper concludes by reviewing a number of factors that specifically influence the application of AWS in Hong Kong.

Evaluating user satisfaction: case studies in Australasia

This paper briefly describes problems in the methodology of a 1994 World Health Organisation Study of Building Health in office workers. The advantages of the Works Canada Office User Satisfaction Survey instrument are described. The Works Canada Survey’s application to 16 regional Queensland Government offices is described in relation to its ability to target building maintenance and refurbishment related to occupant satisfaction and productivity. The article describes modifications made to the Works Canada instrument to adapt it to Australasian conditions, and also to introduce Building Health parameters. The paper describes its application to benchmark the performance of four of the University of Auckland’s office accommodation buildings. The benefits that facility managers can make from such a survey methodology are discussed.

The use of linear polarisation corrosion rate measurements in aiding rehabilitation options for the deck slabs of a reinforced concrete underground car park

It was proposed to add a further nine storeys to an office building for additional office accommodation. A four level car park was in use beneath the building to provide parking for some 200 cars. Satisfactory structural calculations and plans for structural alterations had been carried out for the additional loadings on the car park, but a survey revealed that the car park deck slabs were suffering serious deterioration due to the carriage of de-icing salts on the underside of cars. Deposition of these salts had caused the onset of severe reinforcement corrosion. An initial survey revealed that the concrete in the slabs was of very low quality, equivalent probably to a 20 Grade and cover to the steel was very variable and often low. This survey included a visual survey, half cell potential measurements, chemical analyses for cement and chloride content and a detailed petrographic appraisal of the concrete. The survey revealed high levels of chloride contamination in the slab surface over much of its area and high half cell potentials in most areas examined. The Client had requested remedial proposals and initial options for electrochemical desalination or cathodic protection were put forward, together with budget costings. The Client wished to delay repairs for several years to fit in with their maintenance budget and to avoid disruption at a difficult time. It was proposed that the appraisal be extended to establish the location and distribution of the steel reinforcement in the deck slabs at critical positions around column heads, the condition of the steel, including section loss due to corrosion and the corrosion rate by linear polarisation techniques. This would then enable a decision to be made on the safety of delaying repairs and any additional problems due to further spalling which might be anticipated. It was found that the corrosion rate was reasonably low at the time of the first survey and that it was considered quite feasible to delay repairs for up to three years as requested by the Client. Further monitoring over the first year was recommended to check on corrosion rates over the different seasons. The second survey revealed that both half cell potential and corrosion rates were variable and that corrosion rates doubled between readings taken at the end of the autumn and the end of the winter periods. This confirms the necessity not to rely on only a single set of data readings when undertaking this type of work.

Incubating small entrepreneurial businesses in economies in transition

As the former socialist countries begin to recognize the role small enterprise can play in their economies, many are trying out business incubators as a means of helping start-up small businesses through the early stages. This article outlines the essential features of business incubators – their office facilities, accommodation, and advisory services – and their potential for creating technology-based enterprises, as well as describing their shortcomings. Operations in the U.S. are reviewed, together with recent applications in China and Poland. The applicability of the incubation system in eastern Europe and central Asia is analysed.

Pink, Hands, red faces: UKCC bites back

I thought that your readers may be interested to note that the UKCC's 'ostentatious' and 'expensive' office accommodation costs the UKCC a peppercorn rent of £250 pier annum.

Disaster recovery plans: Case study organization A

Organization A was a large company with many production sites organized in regions. All production sites and regional offices were attached to the star and cluster network emanating from the computer centre based at head office. In addition to the midrange computers, each production site was controlled, to a greater or lesser extent, by process computers. The approach taken in this case study is of a whole business resumption plan to cover the business computers, the process computers and the loss of head office accommodation and facilities. The disaster recovery plan details, by application, the action to be taken at each of seven levels of disaster. Only a few different examples of these are included in this article.

Will Dodoma ever be the new capital of Tanzania?

When, in 1973, Tanzania decided to shift its capital city from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma, it was envisaged that the move would take 10 years, and that the cost could be justified when set against a long-term perspective. A powerful agency was created to implement an idealised capital city masterplan, which would reflect the new status of Dodoma, and to which government machinery could move. The decision was presented as a national one, although in fact it was that of the ruling party. The requisite resources, however, could not be mustered; implementation was concentrated on service infrastructure rather than on the crucial housing and office accommodation; and, as national economic problems became acute, government officials became indifferent to moving to Dodoma. Worse still, Dodoma lacked the concerted backing of key national political leaders, so that deadlines to move to Dodoma have come and gone without anybody taking sanctions. Despite the expenditure of more than Tshs. 4.9bn, there is still little infrastructure that can accommodate the government set up even in part. The idea of shifting Tanzania's capital has a history going back to the colonial days, but experience with Dodoma has shown that the process is a hazardous one, particularly when seen against the backdrop of economic difficulties, and indifferent and unwilling government officials. The new multiparty political climate in the country can only mean a reappraisal of the new capital project, which is likely to be accorded little priority, if it is not scrapped altogether.

Office accommodation in the Civil Service

To the general public, the Civil Service is often perceived as an organisational entity: in reality, it embraces a complex network of organisations (the various departments) whose common goal is to further government policies, but whose nature, size and activities mirror the variety and scope of the policy arena itself. The Gowrie Report to the Prime Minister — a review of office accommodation management — synthesised the findings from reviews of eight of these departments. Its terms of reference were clear — ‘to examine provision of office and administrative accommodation and whether it meets current and foreseen needs; to examine departmental arrangements for managing and budgeting for accommodation; to consider the value for money of these arrangements; and to make recommendations’.

Planning for the cost effective office

Introduction Office accommodation is frequently seen by companies merely as an expensive overhead. Looked at realistically, however, it is an investment which, if made judiciously — will pay handsome dividends.

Façade retention projects — 2

In the Spring 1984 edition of Structural Survey (Vol 3, No 1), W. F. Hill's paper on façade Retention Projects covered the initial research, detailed surveys and preliminary design assessments which are necessary when arriving at the preferred method of construction to be adopted for new buildings behind retained façades. This paper follows on from this, covering in detail the structural design and specification aspects, tender invitations and appraisals of the demolition and construction monitoring necessary to ensure façade stability on one particular project. This project, known as 20 Finsbury Circus, involves the construction of 8,250 sq. m of new air‐conditioned office accommodation and retail units behind the existing Edwardian stone façade of the group of buildings previously known as 1–5 Broad Street Place, on the northern side of Finsbury Circus in London. The new eight‐storey structure will provide for retail units at ground floor, with offices, storage and major plant installations at basement level and offices between the first and sixth floor level and a roof garden.

Barriers to the exploitation of daylighting in building design: U.K. experience

This paper describes a small but detailed investigation aimed at identifying whether U.K. designers are attempting to use daylighting as a means of reducing fuel consumption when designing office accommodation. Data have been collected through a series of indepth, focused interviews conducted with members of selected architectural and engineering practices. The contents of these interviews are analysed: 1. (a) to discover whether the designers interviewed tried to exploit natural light as a source for lighting their interiors; 2. (b) to discern, if they did attempt to do so, whether they saw any barriers preventing or hindering them from exploiting that source; and 3. (c) to disclose, if designers chose not to exploit daylight, why they chose not to do so. The results show that at least three separate groupings can be identified amongst the U.K. designers interviewed with respect to their attitude to daylighting: (1) those who are predisposed to exploit daylight; (2) those who are indifferent to daylighting as a pertinent issue in building design; (3) those who reject daylighting as a useful option for energy saving. For the last two of these groupings, solely the provision of daylight design aids — existing or subsequently improved — is not likely to extend the exploitation of daylighting for the purpose of producing energy-conscious buildings. A stage of education and demonstration is proposed to encourage these groups to reassess their objections to daylight design.

A Model of Professional Office Location

SummaryThis paper evolves and describes an explanatory model of the behaviour of professional offices in a provincial centre. Previous work in the field is reviewed and using Directory data sources of the post-war period office accommodation characteristics are derived (i.e. their type, distance from the centre etc). Distinctions are drawn between births and existing offices at various sub- periods and the processes synthesised in the form of a model. This indicates that the physical area of professional offices has extended due to a desire by established companies to occupy more spacious accommodation further away from the centre. Conversely accommodation in or near the centre is occupied by relatively new companies requiring centrality near pedestrian access for a successful float of their business activities. Once this is achieved they in turn seek more spacious alternative accommodation further away from the centre. Finally, suggestions are made concerning future lines of research.

Officer Accommodation in Police-Civilian Encounters: Reported Compliance with Police in Mongolia and the United States

Recent research has demonstrated that, for young adults, officers' communicative practices are potent predictors of civilians’ attributed trust in police, and their perceived likelihood of compliance with police requests. This line of work has important applied implications for ameliorating police-civilian relations on the one hand and promoting a joint law enforcement/community response to crime prevention on the other. The present study continued this line of work in Mongolia and the USA. Mongolia is not only intriguing as little communication research has been conducted in this setting, but is significant as its government (and the law enforcement arm of it) is currently experiencing significant social upheavals. Besides differences between nations, results revealed that, for American participants, officer accommodativeness indirectly predicted civilian compliance through trust. This also emerged for the Mongolian counterparts, although a direct relationship was evident between officer accommodation and compliance as well. The latter finding is unique in that it is the first cultural context where both direct and indirect paths have been identified. The practical significance of these findings is discussed. Keywords: Mongolia; United States; America; Police; Law Enforcement; Civilian; Intercultural; Cross-Cultural; Intergroup; Accommodation; Trust; Compliance. DOI: 10.5564/mjia.v0i15-16.35Mongolian Journal of International Affairs No.15-16 2008-2009 pp.176-200

The economics of laboratory animal production

The economics of research animal production run the entire gamut from production to utilization and embrace management, distribution and financing. Since others at the Symposium have already spoken on transportation and distribution problems, the management of animal facilities, supply, demand and the raising of animals and operational methodology, the comments herein will be confined to the financial considerations inherent in the breeding of experimental animals. This paper will concern itself primarily with the costs for animal production incurred in the USA. First consideration must be given to the land on which production buildings are to be placed. In addition to the thought given to legal problems of usage and water supply and drainage, distance from markets, availability of labour and nearness of transport, one must also keep in mind the initial value of the land. More and more, the accessibility of land for animal production facilities and its cost are becoming inversely related to the distance from major cities. Because of the expensiveness of tracts of ground in or near large cities, it is frequently necessary to compensate for this cost by constructing high, multi-storey buildings which are not widely regarded as good animal production quarters. The alternative, then, is to build a one-story building (with or without a basement), spreading it out, as need dictates, over a large area of ground. This design will keep down the original expense for the land and, at the same time, provide a suitable structure for this purpose. In addition, one must take into account landscaping and tree planting, both for aesthetic reasons and in order to dampen sound. Although the facility for the housing of laboratory animals in a production colony will account for the greatest portion of the original expense, it is extremely difficult to provide cost figures since such variables as materials, labour and design change with bewildering rapidity as you travel from country to country and from one geographic area to another. The National Institutes of Health has recently renovated a building constructed in 1956 for animal breeding. Built as part of their conventional animal facilities in 1956 at a cost of $21/ft 2, it was not used as animal space, but provided temporary office accommodation for personnel until now. If, rather than being planned for conventional animals, it had been built to specifications for specific pathogen-free animals, it would have cost $25/ft 2 in 1956. In 1963, the estimated cost, a combination of original construction prices plus the addition of equipment, such as special air-conditioning and electrically interlocking doors, had risen to $32/ft'-', an increase in 7 yr of $7/ft '. The figures given are for gross area (R. S. Runkle, personal communication). Another government research institution has recently erected a series of 3-room animal buildings, completely air-conditioned. The cost was $26/ft '. Phillips (1963) has estimated the cost of infectious disease laboratories with attendant animal housing facilities at

BUSINESS RECORDS FOR The FUTURE

There is a certain lack of reality about our approach to the preservation of business records. We are only too eager to discuss the academic, archival problems, but singularly reluctant to face the more pressing truth—that the overwhelming majority of business men have not the foggiest notion of the importance of these records to them, and consequently are quite unaware of the need to preserve them. Why should they show any concern? After all, a business man's interests lie in the present and the future, not in the past. His job is to grapple with new ideas, not with old papers. And, in any case, these old papers take up shelf space which becomes progressively more expensive as site values rise. Why keep all this lumber? To heave it all out is, at first sight, the cheapest solution. Consequently, as office accommodation becomes more valuable, the heaving process continues apace while the faithful discuss the technicalities of preservation on the quite unfounded assumption that most business men are becoming converts to preservation. We have got our priorities wrong. We should be spending much more of our time in trying to persuade the owners of business records that there is gain to them in keeping a carefully selected portion of their old papers for historical purposes. A great deal of evangelism is called for before we can spend the greater part of our time discussing just how these records should be preserved.

The LeFevre Training Centre

THE RECENTLY‐OPENED LeFevre Training Centre, at the North Thames Gas Board's Stratford Works, in East London, provides greatly improved facilities for training in the eastern part of the Board's area. It is named after Mr R. N. LeFevre, M.B.E., who has been Training and Education Officer, first with the Gas Light and Coke Company and, since 1928, with the Board. He has also been concerned with part‐time education of the Board's employees, of whom some 2,000 attend various courses. The new buildings consist of a training shop and a lecture room, with sound‐proofed office accommodation for the instructors. There is also an apprentices' club‐room equipped for indoor games. Most of the trainees at the new centre are drawn from the densely populated areas of East London and South‐East Essex, hence the journey to Watson House is avoided and trainees save travelling time and expenses.

Institution of Metallurgists : Dr. A. D. Merriman

DR. ARTHUR D. MERRIMAN has been appointed to the full-time post of registrar-secretary of the Institution of Metallurgists. Dr. Merriman‘s initial training was in physics, mathematics and chemistry, and he has had some twenty years experience in academic fields, including the post of principal of the County Technical School, Wallsend-on-Tyne, 1926–38. During the early part of the Second World War, he served with the Directorate of Scientific Research, Ministry of Supply, and was the senior member of a group of scientific men and engineers dealing with bomb disposal problems ; for his personal courage in emergency situations he was awarded the George Cross. From 1941 until 1944 he was scientific adviser to the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, and in 1944 was appointed to a special intelligence assignment in the U.S.S.R., followed by similar work in north-west Europe and Germany. Since then he has been a principal scientific officer (technical intelligence) at the Armaments Design Department, Ministry of Supply. Dr. Merriman succeeds Dr. Harold Moore, the Institution‘s first president, who has been serving as registrar, and Mr. K. Headlam-Morley, secretary of the Iron and Steel Institute, who has acted as secretary of the Institution. Office accommodation will continue to be provided for the Institution at 4 Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.1.

Annual Conference of the Museums Association

THE forty-third Annual Conference of the Museums Association was held at Birmingham on June 27-July 2, by invitation of the Lord Mayor and Corporation. This is the first time that the Association has visited the City. The University authorities very kindly placed lecture and office accommodation in Mason College, Edmund Street, at the disposal of the delegates, and here some two hundred members of the Association met under the presidency of Sir Henry Miers.